SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol.
The Tomb of the ANDRONICI appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft. Enter, below, from one side, SATURNINUS and his Followers; and, from the other side, BASSIANUS and his Followers; with drum and colours
- SATURNINUS
">- Noble patricians, patrons of my right,
- Defend the justice of my cause with arms,
- And, countrymen, my loving followers,
- Plead my successive title with your swords:
- I am his first-born son, that was the last
- That wore the imperial diadem of Rome;
- Then let my father's honours live in me,
- Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.
- BASSIANUS
">- Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right,
- If ever Bassianus, Caesar's son,
- Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
- Keep then this passage to the Capitol
- And suffer not dishonour to approach
- The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
- To justice, continence and nobility;
- But let desert in pure election shine,
- And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.
Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the crown
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- Princes, that strive by factions and by friends
- Ambitiously for rule and empery,
- Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand
- A special party, have, by common voice,
- In election for the Roman empery,
- Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius
- For many good and great deserts to Rome:
- A nobler man, a braver warrior,
- Lives not this day within the city walls:
- He by the senate is accit'd home
- From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
- That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
- Hath yoked a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
- Ten years are spent since first he undertook
- This cause of Rome and chastised with arms
- Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd
- Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons
- In coffins from the field;
- And now at last, laden with horror's spoils,
- Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
- Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.
- Let us entreat, by honour of his name,
- Whom worthily you would have now succeed.
- And in the Capitol and senate's right,
- Whom you pretend to honour and adore,
- That you withdraw you and abate your strength;
- Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should,
- Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.
- SATURNINUS
">- How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!
- BASSIANUS
">- Marcus Andronicus, so I do ally
- In thy uprightness and integrity,
- And so I love and honour thee and thine,
- Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,
- And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,
- Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,
- That I will here dismiss my loving friends,
- And to my fortunes and the people's favor
- Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd.
Exeunt the followers of BASSIANUS
- SATURNINUS
">- Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,
- I thank you all and here dismiss you all,
- And to the love and favor of my country
- Commit myself, my person and the cause.
- Exeunt the followers of SATURNINUS
- Rome, be as just and gracious unto me
- As I am confident and kind to thee.
- Open the gates, and let me in.
- BASSIANUS
">- Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.
Flourish. SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS go up into the Capitol
Enter a Captain
- Captain
">- Romans, make way: the good Andronicus.
- Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,
- Successful in the battles that he fights,
- With honour and with fortune is return'd
- From where he circumscribed with his sword,
- And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.
Drums and trumpets sounded. Enter MARTIUS and MUTIUS; After them, two Men bearing a coffin covered with black; then LUCIUS and QUINTUS. After them, TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, with ALARBUS, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and people following. The Bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!
- Lo, as the bark, that hath discharged her fraught,
- Returns with precious jading to the bay
- From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,
- Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,
- To re-salute his country with his tears,
- Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.
- Thou great defender of this Capitol,
- Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!
- Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons,
- Half of the number that King Priam had,
- Behold the poor remains, alive and dead!
- These that survive let Rome reward with love;
- These that I bring unto their latest home,
- With burial amongst their ancestors:
- Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword.
- Titus, unkind and careless of thine own,
- Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,
- To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?
- Make way to lay them by their brethren.
- The tomb is opened
- There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,
- And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars!
- O sacred receptacle of my joys,
- Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,
- How many sons of mine hast thou in store,
- That thou wilt never render to me more!
- LUCIUS
">- Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,
- That we may hew his limbs, and on a pile
- Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh,
- Before this earthy prison of their bones;
- That so the shadows be not unappeased,
- Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- I give him you, the noblest that survives,
- The eldest son of this distressed queen.
- TAMORA
">- Stay, Roman brethren! Gracious conqueror,
- Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,
- A mother's tears in passion for her son:
- And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,
- O, think my son to be as dear to me!
- Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome,
- To beautify thy triumphs and return,
- Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke,
- But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,
- For valiant doings in their country's cause?
- O, if to fight for king and commonweal
- Were piety in thine, it is in these.
- Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood:
- Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
- Draw near them then in being merciful:
- Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge:
- Thrice noble Titus, spare my first-born son.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.
- These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld
- Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain
- Religiously they ask a sacrifice:
- To this your son is mark'd, and die he must,
- To appease their groaning shadows that are gone.
- LUCIUS
">- Away with him! and make a fire straight;
- And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,
- Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consumed.
Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS, with ALARBUS
- TAMORA
">- O cruel, irreligious piety!
- CHIRON
">- Was ever Scythia half so barbarous?
- DEMETRIUS
">- Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.
- Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive
- To tremble under Titus' threatening looks.
- Then, madam, stand resolved, but hope withal
- The self-same gods that arm'd the Queen of Troy
- With opportunity of sharp revenge
- Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,
- May favor Tamora, the Queen of Goths--
- When Goths were Goths and Tamora was queen--
- To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.
Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS and MUTIUS, with their swords bloody
- LUCIUS
">- See, lord and father, how we have perform'd
- Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,
- And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
- Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky.
- Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren,
- And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Let it be so; and let Andronicus
- Make this his latest farewell to their souls.
- Trumpets sounded, and the coffin laid in the tomb
- In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;
- Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
- Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!
- Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,
- Here grow no damned grudges; here are no storms,
- No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:
- In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!
Enter LAVINIA
- LAVINIA
">- In peace and honour live Lord Titus long;
- My noble lord and father, live in fame!
- Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears
- I render, for my brethren's obsequies;
- And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy,
- Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome:
- O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
- Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud!
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved
- The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!
- Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,
- And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise!
Enter, below, MARCUS ANDRONICUS and Tribunes; re-enter SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS, attended
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,
- Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,
- You that survive, and you that sleep in fame!
- Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
- That in your country's service drew your swords:
- But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
- That hath aspired to Solon's happiness
- And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.
- Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
- Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
- Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust,
- This palliament of white and spotless hue;
- And name thee in election for the empire,
- With these our late-deceased emperor's sons:
- Be candidatus then, and put it on,
- And help to set a head on headless Rome.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- A better head her glorious body fits
- Than his that shakes for age and feebleness:
- What should I don this robe, and trouble you?
- Be chosen with proclamations to-day,
- To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,
- And set abroad new business for you all?
- Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
- And led my country's strength successfully,
- And buried one and twenty valiant sons,
- Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
- In right and service of their noble country
- Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
- But not a sceptre to control the world:
- Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.
- SATURNINUS
">- Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Patience, Prince Saturninus.
- SATURNINUS
">- Romans, do me right:
- Patricians, draw your swords: and sheathe them not
- Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor.
- Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd to hell,
- Rather than rob me of the people's hearts!
- LUCIUS
">- Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good
- That noble-minded Titus means to thee!
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee
- The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves.
- BASSIANUS
">- Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,
- But honour thee, and will do till I die:
- My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,
- I will most thankful be; and thanks to men
- Of noble minds is honourable meed.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- People of Rome, and people's tribunes here,
- I ask your voices and your suffrages:
- Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
- Tribunes
">- To gratify the good Andronicus,
- And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
- The people will accept whom he admits.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make,
- That you create your emperor's eldest son,
- Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,
- Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,
- And ripen justice in this commonweal:
- Then, if you will elect by my advice,
- Crown him and say 'Long live our emperor!'
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- With voices and applause of every sort,
- Patricians and plebeians, we create
- Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor,
- And say 'Long live our Emperor Saturnine!'
A long flourish till they come down
- SATURNINUS
">- Titus Andronicus, for thy favors done
- To us in our election this day,
- I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
- And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:
- And, for an onset, Titus, to advance
- Thy name and honourable family,
- Lavinia will I make my empress,
- Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
- And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:
- Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- It doth, my worthy lord; and in this match
- I hold me highly honour'd of your grace:
- And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine,
- King and commander of our commonweal,
- The wide world's emperor, do I consecrate
- My sword, my chariot and my prisoners;
- Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord:
- Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,
- Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.
- SATURNINUS
">- Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life!
- How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts
- Rome shall record, and when I do forget
- The least of these unspeakable deserts,
- Romans, forget your fealty to me.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- To TAMORA Now, madam, are you prisoner to
- an emperor;
- To him that, for your honour and your state,
- Will use you nobly and your followers.
- SATURNINUS
">- A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue
- That I would choose, were I to choose anew.
- Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance:
- Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,
- Thou comest not to be made a scorn in Rome:
- Princely shall be thy usage every way.
- Rest on my word, and let not discontent
- Daunt all your hopes: madam, he comforts you
- Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths.
- Lavinia, you are not displeased with this?
- LAVINIA
">- Not I, my lord; sith true nobility
- Warrants these words in princely courtesy.
- SATURNINUS
">- Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go;
- Ransomless here we set our prisoners free:
- Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.
Flourish. SATURNINUS courts TAMORA in dumb show
- BASSIANUS
">- Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.
Seizing LAVINIA
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- How, sir! are you in earnest then, my lord?
- BASSIANUS
">- Ay, noble Titus; and resolved withal
- To do myself this reason and this right.
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- 'Suum cuique' is our Roman justice:
- This prince in justice seizeth but his own.
- LUCIUS
">- And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's guard?
- Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surprised!
- SATURNINUS
">- Surprised! by whom?
- BASSIANUS
">- By him that justly may
- Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.
Exeunt BASSIANUS and MARCUS with LAVINIA
- MUTIUS
">- Brothers, help to convey her hence away,
- And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.
Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back.
- MUTIUS
">- My lord, you pass not here.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- What, villain boy!
- Barr'st me my way in Rome?
Stabbing MUTIUS
- MUTIUS
">- Help, Lucius, help!
- Dies
During the fray, SATURNINUS, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON and AARON go out and re-enter, above
Re-enter LUCIUS
- LUCIUS
">- My lord, you are unjust, and, more than so,
- In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine;
- My sons would never so dishonour me:
- Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.
- LUCIUS
">- Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife,
- That is another's lawful promised love.
Exit
- SATURNINUS
">- No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not,
- Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock:
- I'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once;
- Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
- Confederates all thus to dishonour me.
- Was there none else in Rome to make a stale,
- But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,
- Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine,
- That said'st I begg'd the empire at thy hands.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- O monstrous! what reproachful words are these?
- SATURNINUS
">- But go thy ways; go, give that changing piece
- To him that flourish'd for her with his sword
- A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy;
- One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons,
- To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- These words are razors to my wounded heart.
- SATURNINUS
">- And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Goths,
- That like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs
- Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome,
- If thou be pleased with this my sudden choice,
- Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,
- And will create thee empress of Rome,
- Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice?
- And here I swear by all the Roman gods,
- Sith priest and holy water are so near
- And tapers burn so bright and every thing
- In readiness for Hymenaeus stand,
- I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,
- Or climb my palace, till from forth this place
- I lead espoused my bride along with me.
- TAMORA
">- And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I swear,
- If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths,
- She will a handmaid be to his desires,
- A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.
- SATURNINUS
">- Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon. Lords, accompany
- Your noble emperor and his lovely bride,
- Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine,
- Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered:
- There shall we consummate our spousal rites.
Exeunt all but TITUS
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- I am not bid to wait upon this bride.
- Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,
- Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs?
Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- O Titus, see, O, see what thou hast done!
- In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,
- Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed
- That hath dishonour'd all our family;
- Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons!
- LUCIUS
">- But let us give him burial, as becomes;
- Give Mutius burial with our brethren.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb:
- This monument five hundred years hath stood,
- Which I have sumptuously re-edified:
- Here none but soldiers and Rome's servitors
- Repose in fame; none basely slain in brawls:
- Bury him where you can; he comes not here.
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- My lord, this is impiety in you:
- My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him
- He must be buried with his brethren.
- QUINTUS
">- MARTIUS
">- And shall, or him we will accompany.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- 'And shall!' what villain was it that spake
- that word?
- QUINTUS
">- He that would vouch it in any place but here.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- What, would you bury him in my despite?
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee
- To pardon Mutius and to bury him.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest,
- And, with these boys, mine honour thou hast wounded:
- My foes I do repute you every one;
- So, trouble me no more, but get you gone.
- MARTIUS
">- He is not with himself; let us withdraw.
- QUINTUS
">- Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.
MARCUS and the Sons of TITUS kneel
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- Brother, for in that name doth nature plead,--
- QUINTUS
">- Father, and in that name doth nature speak,--
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- Renowned Titus, more than half my soul,--
- LUCIUS
">- Dear father, soul and substance of us all,--
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter
- His noble nephew here in virtue's nest,
- That died in honour and Lavinia's cause.
- Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous:
- The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax
- That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son
- Did graciously plead for his funerals:
- Let not young Mutius, then, that was thy joy
- Be barr'd his entrance here.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Rise, Marcus, rise.
- The dismall'st day is this that e'er I saw,
- To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!
- Well, bury him, and bury me the next.
MUTIUS is put into the tomb
- LUCIUS
">- There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends,
- Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.
- All
">- Kneeling No man shed tears for noble Mutius;
- He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- My lord, to step out of these dreary dumps,
- How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths
- Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome?
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- I know not, Marcus; but I know it is,
- Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell:
- Is she not then beholding to the man
- That brought her for this high good turn so far?
- Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.
Flourish. Re-enter, from one side, SATURNINUS attended, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON and AARON; from the other, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, and others
- SATURNINUS
">- So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize:
- God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride!
- BASSIANUS
">- And you of yours, my lord! I say no more,
- Nor wish no less; and so, I take my leave.
- SATURNINUS
">- Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,
- Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.
- BASSIANUS
">- Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own,
- My truth-betrothed love and now my wife?
- But let the laws of Rome determine all;
- Meanwhile I am possess'd of that is mine.
- SATURNINUS
">- 'Tis good, sir: you are very short with us;
- But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you.
- BASSIANUS
">- My lord, what I have done, as best I may,
- Answer I must and shall do with my life.
- Only thus much I give your grace to know:
- By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
- This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,
- Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd;
- That in the rescue of Lavinia
- With his own hand did slay his youngest son,
- In zeal to you and highly moved to wrath
- To be controll'd in that he frankly gave:
- Receive him, then, to favor, Saturnine,
- That hath express'd himself in all his deeds
- A father and a friend to thee and Rome.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds:
- 'Tis thou and those that have dishonour'd me.
- Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge,
- How I have loved and honour'd Saturnine!
- TAMORA
">- My worthy lord, if ever Tamora
- Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,
- Then hear me speak in indifferently for all;
- And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.
- SATURNINUS
">- What, madam! be dishonour'd openly,
- And basely put it up without revenge?
- TAMORA
">- Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend
- I should be author to dishonour you!
- But on mine honour dare I undertake
- For good Lord Titus' innocence in all;
- Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs:
- Then, at my suit, look graciously on him;
- Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose,
- Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.
- Aside to SATURNINUS My lord, be ruled by me,
- be won at last;
- Dissemble all your griefs and discontents:
- You are but newly planted in your throne;
- Lest, then, the people, and patricians too,
- Upon a just survey, take Titus' part,
- And so supplant you for ingratitude,
- Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin,
- Yield at entreats; and then let me alone:
- I'll find a day to massacre them all
- And raze their faction and their family,
- The cruel father and his traitorous sons,
- To whom I sued for my dear son's life,
- And make them know what 'tis to let a queen
- Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain.
- Aloud
- Come, come, sweet emperor; come, Andronicus;
- Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart
- That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.
- SATURNINUS
">- Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- I thank your majesty, and her, my lord:
- These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.
- TAMORA
">- Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,
- A Roman now adopted happily,
- And must advise the emperor for his good.
- This day all quarrels die, Andronicus;
- And let it be mine honour, good my lord,
- That I have reconciled your friends and you.
- For you, Prince Bassianus, I have pass'd
- My word and promise to the emperor,
- That you will be more mild and tractable.
- And fear not lords, and you, Lavinia;
- By my advice, all humbled on your knees,
- You shall ask pardon of his majesty.
- LUCIUS
">- We do, and vow to heaven and to his highness,
- That what we did was mildly as we might,
- Tendering our sister's honour and our own.
- MARCUS ANDRONICUS
">- That, on mine honour, here I do protest.
- SATURNINUS
">- Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.
- TAMORA
">- Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all be friends:
- The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace;
- I will not be denied: sweet heart, look back.
- SATURNINUS
">- Marcus, for thy sake and thy brother's here,
- And at my lovely Tamora's entreats,
- I do remit these young men's heinous faults: Stand up.
- Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,
- I found a friend, and sure as death I swore
- I would not part a bachelor from the priest.
- Come, if the emperor's court can feast two brides,
- You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends.
- This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.
- TITUS ANDRONICUS
">- To-morrow, an it please your majesty
- To hunt the panther and the hart with me,
- With horn and hound we'll give your grace bonjour.
- SATURNINUS
">- Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.
Flourish. Exeunt